Hello all.

I am a published author in the UK, all four of my books have been with the traditional route of agent/established publisher.

I am just completing my 5th book and have decided that instead of someone charging £15 for my book with the book shops taking £7.50 straight away, I am following Prince's lead and making it available independently.

This has enabled me to have total control over what goes in the book and allows me to set the price (much cheaper to the reader). Contacts in the industry have told me I'm mad to turn away from the norm as I won't have the PR to back my work up.

I reckon it's worth a try and I genuinely believe that all art forms will eventually go down the route of Prince's way of doing things.

Giv u 5!!!!!

HollywoodSt said:

this depends on whether you are known and have a market, and people know where to buy your books. If your publisher can sell 10000 of your books and you get "only" 7.50 for each of these then you will earn 75K, but if you sell them on your own website and through other methods, and you only sell 1000 books at full price, you will only earn 15000, plus you have to stump up the costs yourself, which include web, marketing and other costs.

Of course, sometimes there is no substitute for artistic integrety, but Prince would not be independant if he did not have WB´s marketing power behind him at the start. In fact he would not be known and he would struggle to sell 100 copies of his CD and get a day job like everybody else. The contract from WB enabled him to make music for a living and focus his career in this area. Only later when his records werent selling as much and WB were putting pressure on him to become more commercial that he decided that he was a "Slave" and that he should keep all his earnings - however now all the web site costs, marketing costs, etc are coming out of his pocket and he frequently needs a label to help get his music distributed anyway.

So fuck man do what you want, but Prince can do and say what he wants because he is Prince. As a musician, I would rather have a record contract take 90% of everything I earn simply to get the exposure that they would give you.

Let us know how it works out

HollywoodSt said:

fantastic, really hope it works. Good luck. What's the book by the way, any links?.

funkyhead said:

There's a link in their sig.

Good luck with the book Hollywood.

Reminds me very much of an epsiode of Extras.

Was one of your earlier books received like Purple Rain or the story of a well-known DC Comics superhero?

Did you take all the pre-order money only to lose half the order details before shipping?

...being SELF-employed is the best route 2 take..good 4 u..and ur books! ...mzsexybaby

have u sued any1 yet?

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Must clarify that although I've followed his business model, in no way am I comparing myself to Prince in any other way so to answer the thread questions -

No none of my books has been received like Purple Rain (although I did get nominated for a major industry award last year)

I have never sued anyone either

I am hoping to get the book out in April/May and will definitely keep you posted.

TheEnglishGent said:

Thanks for reading it. Have heard great things about Extras but never watched it myself.

I'm more into Phoenix Nights etc.

HollywoodSt said:

brill, fellow Phoenix fan. Can any scene top the stannah stair lift episode!!.

mzkqueen03 said:

The trouble with being self-employed is that at some point (depending on the business) a person will have to garner the services of another. This often leads to permanent employment by the self-employer of others. One can argue that those that work for another are self-employed in that they have sold their time and skill. Oh it goes on and on and gets us nowhere.

Good luck with your book.

It worked well for the Uptown books !

mELdOURADOsELVAGEM said:

How cute...

Congratulations 2 U...Keep Going...